The news regarding the resolution of the new Withering incident ran like the wind: everybody in Sumeru was already aware about it the very same day it was published, which was the day after the battle against the Dreamcatcher. Although this incident had lasted for only a brief moment in comparison with the original one, it was still a cause for joy. The people of Sumeru were elated now that they could leave their homes without fear of encountering a Withering once again.
The official version of events was limited to stating that Lesser Lord Kusanali had confronted the cause of the new Withering and purified it. That was everything written down on the notice boards: it was never explained what the cause had been, nor who had participated in that battle. Both Sucrose and Collei preferred it this way. Had their deed become known, they would most likely have been on everybody's lips, something they did not want to even think about. Dori, on the other hand, would have liked to have had a small mention at least, because she could have used it in order to get some publicity.
The afternoon of that same day, the Palace of Alcazarzaray received a quite expected visit. Neither Dori, nor Sucrose, and certainly not Collei, were surprised in the slightest when Goshtasb ushered Tighnari and Cyno to Dori's sitting room, where the three girls were resting together after lunching. What did surprise them, however, was that they hadn't come to see just Collei, but all of them.
Tighnari explained to them that Nahida, after the meeting of the Sages in which she informed everybody about the end of the new Withering, she told both him and Cyno that she wanted to speak with them alone in the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Once there, she told them the true version of the events while asking them that this version must remain forever untold. Of course, they both agreed without hesitation.
The thing was, although Nahida had concealed it very well during the meeting, it became quite clear later in the sanctuary that she was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Therefore, the two boys, although they already knew that Collei was fine, couldn't help but worry about all of them. Thus, they first ensured that Nahida got some proper rest and then set off to the Palace of Alcazarzaray posthaste.
"And we weren't wrong: all three of you don't look very good," he finished.
"I need to train more…" Collei lamented. "You two wouldn't be as sore as I am now."
"And you're in good physical shape already, Collei," Dori added amidst groans. "My whole body hurts tremendously from the run that stupid ruin did with it."
They were suffering the aftereffects of their intense physical effort of the previous day, particularly Dori, since hers was literally superhuman while she was being possessed by the Dreamcatcher.
"And you? How are you feeling, Sucrose?" Cyno asked.
"I'm fine, thank you," Sucrose replied smilingly. "I don't have any ache or soreness, although I don't know why…"
"Maybe it's in your genes?" Cyno supposed. "But I wasn't asking about your physical condition, exactly. I can tell that you're still mourning."
Sucrose's smile faded and warped into a glumly expression. Was it that obvious? She thought that she was already over the worst part and that now she had her grief under control, because nobody had noticed until then.
"Cyno's really good at sensing other people's emotions," Collei said. "No one can fool him."
"Indeed. He has an even better eye than little old me, as much as I hate to admit it," Dori agreed. "Add that to his combat ability, and there is nobody better suited for the position of General Mahamatra than him."
"You're going to make me blush," Cyno said.
"I'm fine, really," Sucrose answered Cyno's question at last. "I just need some time, that's all. Thank you for worrying about me."
She smiled at him again, yet her smile was sincere this time. Sucrose's smile managed to make Cyno blush a little, although he managed to conceal it. He smiled back at her:
"Don't mention it. And don't forget that you can also rely on us for anything. We're your friends, too."
Everybody stared at Cyno. It was not that they were surprised by what he had just said, but rather they were preparing themselves for what he was going to say next. Cyno felt all gazes upon him.
"I'm not going to crack a joke, if that's what you're waiting for," he guessed. "I don't think this is a proper time for jokes."
Now everybody was indeed surprised. Given how Cyno cracked so many unfunny jokes that it seemed like he had an irresistible urge to do so, it felt rather odd to everybody, especially to Tighnari and Collei, that he didn't want to on his own volition. They decided to take his word and drop the subject.
"Anyhow, you said that Nahida has already informed the Sages, did you not?" Dori ensured excitedly. "Has the news been already divulged, then?"
Tighnari told the three girls the official version of the events, the one which had reached the notice boards. Both Sucrose and Collei breathed a sigh of relief, but Dori got disappointed.
"There goes my opportunity of becoming more renowned…" she grumbled.
Dori resigned herself with a long, heavy sigh. It was already too late to do anything in that regard, because trying to rectify it at this point would only achieve the opposite effect.
"Oh, well… What really matters is that Sucrose is finally safe. I should be happy about this."
Everybody else had a crooked grin on their faces. Shouldn't that have been your first concern? they wondered at the same time. Then, Dori opened both her eyes and her mouth wide. She had just realized something even more important.
"That's right! Sucrose! You're safe now! Do you know what that means!?"
"That I don't have to worry about the new Withering anymore?" Sucrose guessed.
"That you can finally go out on your own!" Dori corrected happily.
Sucrose remained silent; she needed several seconds to process what Dori had just said. Then, she became shocked and exclaimed loudly.
"What!? What do you mean 'on my own'!?" she jabbered. "Without anyone to accompany me!?"
"Indeed. You have long since proven that you know your way around Sumeru's rainforest, and you no longer need protection from the new Withering," Dori reasoned. "You're free to go wherever you wish, whenever you wish. Just don't come home late."
Sucrose was jumping for joy, and if it were not for the fact that the two of them weren't alone in that room, she would have literally done so. Collei, on her hand, felt disappointed, to her own surprise. She knew that she should be happy for Sucrose, and yet such was the first feeling which had come to her after hearing the news.
"Does that mean that I'm not needed anymore?" she asked nervously. "So, I'm leaving now?"
"Of course not. You stay here until our agreement expires next week, and from that moment on, it will be your own decision," Dori clarified. "That is, if your mentors are fine with this, needless to say."
"Absolutely," Tighnari concurred. "We had agreed to extend her stay, and I'm not backing down on my word."
"If Collei is the one who decides, then she'll have my full support," Cyno nodded. "Whatever she chooses."
Thus, neither of her mentors had any objections. Collei felt relieved and glad. However, said feelings caused her a new surprise, which led into hesitation. Why was she feeling like that?
Under the darkening dusk sky, Collei sat on one of the benches in the garden's gazebo. She was looking down, crestfallen and pensive. She had been mulling over those odd feelings ever since the lifting of Sucrose's ban had been mentioned. She had mixed feelings about it, and for that very reason she thought that she had a problem with herself. In the midst of her thoughts, she suddenly heard Tighnari's voice calling her. She raised her head and saw him, along with Cyno and Sucrose. She began to become anxious.
"What is it?" she asked disquietly.
Dori had invited the two boys to dinner; therefore, they had spent the afternoon in the palace. All this time, while the others spent time together, like chatting about the job of each one or dueling Cyno in Genius Invocation TCG, Collei remained distant from everybody else, lost in her thoughts. Then, after dinner, she went out into the garden by herself in order to isolate herself even further. She thought that she was going to be scolded for her behavior.
"We've come to tell you that we're leaving," Tighnari said.
Collei was quite puzzled. Was that all? She knew them, and she knew that they would, at least, talk about her recent behavior. She knew that it was impossible for them not to notice. She found it unthinkable to believe that they were going to leave just like that. Why? Had they been ignoring her the whole time?
She opted not to bring the subject up herself and simply bid them farewell, trying to conceal her worries behind a forced smile. The two boys began their journey back after nodding at Sucrose, who nodded back at them. Collei guessed that they were bidding each other farewell. Then, Sucrose sat down beside her, yet she said nothing. Nor did Collei. They just watched both Tighnari and Cyno climbing up the path outside the basin. Once the boys were out of sight, Sucrose turned her gaze towards Collei. She looked into her eyes with a worried look on his face.
"Do you want to talk?" she asked her.
"I'm not in the mood right now…" Collei replied halfheartedly. "Could you leave me alone?"
Sucrose twisted her lips, but she didn't avoid her gaze from Collei. She seemed disappointed. No, it was more like she was having her own internal conflict. Then, she frowned and blew hard through her nose. Her expression turned into one of complete determination, an expression Collei knew quite well.
"I would have left you alone until you were ready to talk about it, but both Tighnari and Cyno told me to be insistent," she confessed. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Master and Cyno?" Collei stammered in surprise. "Why?"
Sucrose told Collei everything. Tighnari and Cyno had asked Sucrose to talk with her. They were quite concerned about her sudden change of mood since the mentioning of her possible return to Gandharva Ville. Sucrose gladly accepted, for she was worried about her friend as well. Still, her curiosity made her ask them why they didn't do so themselves, to which they replied that she was the only one who could help Collei with her current worries. While thinking about the reason for that answer, along with the possible cause for Collei's current odd behavior, Sucrose reached a conclusion:
"Collei, do you… not want to go back?"
Collei shook her head. "I don't know…" she admitted. "I know that I haven't seen much Master or Cyno all this time, and I miss the times the three of us spend together."
Sucrose listened to Collei as closely as she could.
"But on the other hand," Collei went on, "when Dori said that you can finally go out on your own, the first thing I felt when I thought that I was going to leave was anger. And then I felt relieved when I was told that I could stay. Both of those feelings got me scared."
"Scared? But why?"
"Because I should've been happy about your good news, but I wasn't," Collei said, opening herself up. "I was upset because I thought that I would be separated from you. I was being selfish."
"Collei…"
"And besides, at that moment, I thought more about staying with you than going back with Master and Cyno, and I'm also scared of that. This is the first time I haven't chosen them, and I'm afraid that I might be really replacing them."
Sucrose recalled what Tighnari had said two days ago, about Collei beginning to call Sucrose 'Master' instead of him. Sucrose knew that he was just teasing, but perhaps Collei had taken his words to heart. It might be so, because she saw how tears began to form in Collei's eyes as they were facing each other.
"What should I do, Sucrose?" Collei sobbed. "Do I really have to give up on someone?"
Sucrose let out a loud, heavy sigh of exasperation. With her right hand, she pinched Collei's left cheek and pulled it without hesitation. Collei, who was not expecting such action from Sucrose, felt more pain on said cheek than she actually had due to her surprise.
"Ow! What are you doing!?" She put her hand on her pulled check as a reflex.
"You stupid toadstool, think about what you're saying. Do you really think that just because you don't spend all day with someone, you have to give up on that person?" Sucrose spoke calmly, yet assertively. "In that case, according to your logic, you should have long forgotten Amber by now, shouldn't you? And yet, we still have to write a letter to her pending. It doesn't seem to me at all that you've given up on her."
Collei stared at Sucrose, mouth agape, her hand still on her cheek.
"Just because you didn't prioritize them before doesn't mean that you don't want to be with them anymore," Sucrose argued. "Just like, once you return to Gandharva Ville, it doesn't mean that we can't spend more time together."
Collei understood what Sucrose was telling her and felt stupid. Really stupid. All of her concerns vanished without trace all of a sudden, like if they had never been there to begin with. She laughed. She laughed hard.
"I was so afraid of ending up casting them aside and calling you 'Master' that I didn't realize that this didn't make any sense," she said as she wiped a tear from her eye.
A while passed without either of them saying a word; they just enjoyed the warm Sumerian breeze, the ambient sounds in the basin, and the company of each other. They remained in this way until night had already fallen, and the moonlight majestically illuminated the gazebo, the bench they were sitting on, and their backs.
"Sucrose," Collei broke the silence.
"Yes?"
"I have decided."
"You have? And what have you decided?"
"When next week ends, and our initial agreement is over, I'll go back to Gandharva Ville."
Sucrose was neither sad nor disappointed. Quite the opposite: she was glad for Collei because she knew that she had made her decision with her heart.
"I'll miss my comfy bed," Collei confessed. "I'll miss the luxuries here, the delicious food, the huge bathtub, this garden, the peace and quiet in this basin… and also studying with you. Even Dori's eccentricities!"
Both girls laughed.
"But I won't miss the time I spend with you. You know why? Because we'll keep spending time together."
"That's right," Sucrose nodded firmly and smilingly. "After all, Gandharva Ville is not too far away from here. You can come to visit whenever you wish."
"And you can come to visit me whenever you wish, too! We can do plenty of things around Gandharva Ville! Actually, I've already thought of something!"
"Really?" Sucrose became interested. "And what is it?"
"Ah! It's a surprise!" Collei said with a broad, mischievous smile. "And I'm not telling this no matter how much you insist!"
Sucrose pouted. Now she was dying to know that surprise. However, Collei remained faithful to her word and said nothing while she kept teasing Sucrose. In the end, Sucrose jokingly threatened Collei to elicit the answer from her by tickling her, and Collei fled towards the palace, with Sucrose in pursuit, amidst laughter.
The day after, Sunday, Sucrose helped Collei write the letter to Amber. Collei needed Sucrose's help to write much more than she needed it to read. She asked Sucrose how a certain word was written several times, and her first attempt was full of orthographic errors. Nevertheless, with enough time and patience from both of them, the letter was finally written, entirely by Collei, and ready to be sent.
The girls were fully recovered at last the following day, and so, Collei's last week in the Palace of Alcazarzaray began. Dori had initially offered Sucrose to take that week off and spend it with Collei in order to help her overcome her grief. However, Sucrose declined her offer, stating that she would rather focus on her job and help Collei with her studies to better distract herself.
Although Sucrose could finally go out on her own, she still did so in the company of Collei. That way, they spent most of their time together; not to mention that, to begin with, that was still Collei's job, since it had not ended yet. On Monday, they didn't go too far away from the palace, because they wanted to take their first day out after their battle against the Dreamcatcher in stride.
On Thursday, however, they walked all the way to Sumeru City. They wondered how Nahida was doing, because Sucrose had not received any more visits from her ever since the last time they had seen each other, and they were concerned about her.
Once they walked through the crowded streets of the city, they discovered that the popularity of Dori's alchemist had increased even further, almost to the point of being on everybody's lips. Sucrose had a difficult time suppressing her embarrassment and keeping a straight face every time she overheard any conversation about her, which happened quite usually that time. Nonetheless, she was also filled with joy knowing that her alchemy was indeed helping people, and she did not mind that she might receive even more requests in the future.
Sucrose and Collei began their search for Nahida in the Akademiya, and they didn't need to look long for her: they found her in the lobby, just as she was heading towards the House of Daena.
"Nahida!"
Nahida heard Sucrose calling her and turned around. "Sucrose? And Collei is here as well. I presume you've come to see me?"
Sucrose confirmed Nahida's assumption. She then told her that they had been worried about her.
"I deeply apologise for this, but I won't be able to visit you for quite some time," Nahida said solemnly, a pained expression on her face. "I know this unforeseen circumstance has come at the worst time, but it is of utmost importance and it must be done posthaste."
"Is something serious?" Sucrose pried worriedly. "Can we be of any help?"
"I appreciate your offer, Sucrose, but this is something you cannot help me with," Nahida refused. "Forgive me, both of you, but I must be on my way."
After giving each one a hug, Nahida hurried towards the House of Daena. To Sucrose, who had gotten to know her due to her many visits, it seemed that Nahida was being elusive. Perhaps that issue was something only an Archon could understand? Sucrose would like to be able to do something to help her friend; however, it seemed that Nahida's current concerns were beyond her league this time. She also regretted that she had not been able to ask her for some advice regarding the Aranara seed, nor even show it to her. At least, Sucrose had gotten to see her and check that she was doing fine, more or less, which made her feel somewhat relieved.
The week came to an end, and Monday of departure arrived. Collei beheld her now former room, which already was just as it had used to be before her arrival, one last time. Beside her stood Sucrose and Shaghayeh, the latter about to go wash the bed sheets.
"Are you ready?" Sucrose asked.
"Yes, I am," Collei nodded. "Let's go, they're most likely waiting for us already."
"Take care, Collei," Shaghayeh smiled. "And remember that you will always be welcome here."
Collei blushed. Shaghayeh's words caused her great joy, for she knew that she was not saying that just because of mere courtesy.
The previous night, all of the employees had prepared a small farewell party for Collei. They wanted to give her a surprise, and they gave her a surprise indeed: the Forest Ranger trainee was so touched that she almost burst into tears. The best part about that celebration was that the employees had prepared it on their own volition and behind Dori's back. The awestruck face of their boss when she arrived along with Sucrose and Collei was indeed a sight to behold.
Collei carried her backpack with all of her stuff on her back, bid Shaghayeh farewell, and exited the room with Sucrose. Since Collei had more books in her possession now than when she had arrived, her backpack was quite bulkier, and Cuilein-Anbar stuck its head out from its top. Of course, the backpack weighed much more than before as well; Collei puffed each step she took.
"Do you need some help?" Sucrose offered.
"I'm fine," Collei declined amidst gasps. "I want to carry it all by myself, at least until we're outside."
In the corridors they bumped into Goshtasb, and then into Soltani. Both of them offered their good wishes to Collei, who thanked them blushingly, yet smilingly. At the front door they ran into Mandana, who was coming back from watering the garden. She also bid Collei farewell, and added that she hoped that the three of them could have another conversation about botany soon.
Sucrose and Collei finally came out into the garden. There, beside the fountain, stood Dori along with Tighnari and Cyno. They had come to pick up Collei, and just like Collei had expected, they were already waiting for them. The three of them waved at the two girls as they climbed down the ramp. The first thing Collei did when they reached the others was to drop her backpack onto the ground. She let out a long, loud puff.
"Why do you two always arrive so early?" she asked. "I'd like to be the one waiting for you sometime."
"Because those who 'wait' never take the 'bait'," Cyno commented.
A silence fell. Both Collei and Dori scowled, Tighnari raised a hand to his forehead while he let out an exasperated sigh, and Sucrose could not help but wonder why Cyno felt such an irresistible desire to crack those unfunny jokes. At least, he hadn't made it about her, for she was aware that it was becoming ever more difficult for her to contain her growing urge to give him a kick whenever her name was part of the joke. Once everybody had recovered from the bad joke, Tighnari spoke to Collei:
"Are you sure that this is what you want? You know that you can stay some more time if you wish."
"Totally sure," Collei affirmed. "I want to go back to Gandharva Ville and continue my Forest Ranger training."
There was no room for doubt that Collei was taking her aspiration of becoming a Forest Ranger in complete earnest. Everybody looked at her with pride.
"I can't wait to see a full-fledged Forest Ranger in you, Collei," Dori whispered to herself. She was a little embarrassed to say it out loud.
"Very well, then," Tighnari accepted. "Still, is there something you want to do before we leave?"
"Yes! I want to propose something," Collei said excitedly. "How about all of us here go camping!?"
"Camping?" Sucrose repeated in puzzlement.
Collei nodded vigorously. At that moment, Sucrose guessed that this must have been what Collei had thought of the other night. Collei said that it would be a three-day, two-night camping trip. Sucrose had done plenty of camping back in Mondstadt, due to her field experiments; therefore, she already had some experience. A leisure camping trip all five of them didn't sound bad to her, although she waited to hear Tighnari and Cyno's opinion before giving her own. They both liked Collei's idea as well.
"But we won't be doing it right away," Tighnari added. "Let's let Collei settle into her house first."
"How about this weekend, then?" Cyno suggested. "It'll be easier for all of us to arrange our schedules."
"I'm fine with this, but…" Sucrose wavered, "I think we haven't heard Dori's answer yet."
"I'm not coming," Dori refused. "I would rather sleep in a bed. Besides, if I go camping, I won't be making money, and we would be away for too long, for my tastes."
It seemed not that Dori was going to change her mind. Collei was disillusioned. Dejected, she looked at Dori. Such an expression would not have had the slightest effect on Dori before. But now, after the two of them had shared so many times together, both good and bad ones, it was a different story. Dori tried her best to resist Collei's soulful look. She could not:
"One night! I'm coming, but just for one night! Okay!?"
Collei, with her expression brightened, accepted Dori's terms. The deal was made. As they watched the scene, Sucrose, Tighnari and Cyno each stifled a chortle.
Almost everything was set. They had agreed on the day, the time, and the place to meet: next Friday morning at Gandharva Ville.
"What should we bring for camping?" Sucrose asked.
"You don't need to bring anything," Tighnari said. "Only spare clothes, just in case."
"And a swimsuit!" Collei added enthusiastically.
Sucrose didn't understand why they would need a swimsuit, but she trusted Collei. Then, she realized that she didn't have any swimsuits.
"No problem," Dori said gleefully. "I'll get you one in a jiffy."
"Not a chance. We'll browse swimsuits together," Sucrose stopped her. "I don't trust what you may end up choosing."
Both Tighnari and Cyno looked away while blushing. Collei did not understand why. Regardless, now that everything had been agreed and arranged, everybody looked forward to next Friday, Dori included. For the time being, however, it was time to say goodbye. Sucrose and Collei looked at each other face to face.
"I'll never forget the time I've spent here," Collei smiled. "We've done plenty of things together."
"We laughed, we cried," Sucrose continued. "I wouldn't change any of those moments."
They approached each other and hugged each other tightly. Their affectionate hug moved the others, especially Tighnari and Cyno, who still had not finished assimilating Collei's amazing progress in such a short amount of time. The two friends finished their hug and moved away from each other, although they were still holding both of each other's hands. They looked at each other's eyes one last time.
"I'm so glad I met you, Sucrose."
"Me, too, Collei. I'm so proud that we're friends."
They let go, and then Collei, Tighnari and Cyno began to take their leave. Collei grabbed her backpack, but as soon as the other two noticed how heavy it was, they quickly took it off of her and decided that Cyno should be the one carrying it, since he was the strongest of the three. Collei objected to no avail, and the three of them departed. All of them waved goodbye until Collei's group reached the entrance ramp. Sucrose and Dori stood by the fountain, watching them go, climbing the path outside the basin until they were out of sight. They were gone.
"So? What do you plan to do now?" Dori asked Sucrose. "I have to stay here today: I'm expecting a business meeting. You can go to the city to browse swimsuits on your own, if you want."
"No, I'll wait until tomorrow, if you're free," Sucrose replied. "I said we'll browse them together, and I won't break my word."
"Very kind of you. Very well, we will go tomorrow, together."
"In that case, I think I'll go for a walk," Sucrose decided. "I need some specific materials to finish the requests I'm currently working on. I won't be going far, though."
"Still, be careful out there," Dori said.
Dori returned inside the palace, and Sucrose headed towards the entrance ramp, after going to her atelier to stock up on items and pick up the Aranara seed. When Sucrose was but a step away from leaving the palace, she stopped dead. She realized that that would be the first time she ever left home all by herself. She vacillated. To her left there was the path between rocky walls towards the Stumper Beast pen; she had already been there plenty of times alone. To her right there was the small path towards the bottom of the basin; she had already been there plenty of times as well. And in front of her there was the path which climbed outside the basin; she had trod it alone only once, when she was exploring the whole place during her first days. This would be her second time, and now she was going to go further beyond. It felt odd to her. Very odd. And also more difficult than she had thought.
Sucrose breathed in and out several times. She needed to set her ideas straight. She was only going out for a small walk around the area, nothing else. She already knew the whole place by heart; she would not get lost. There was no more new Withering; she wasn't the target of anything anymore. And, even so, she was carrying some Elemental Spheres on her, just in case. There was no reason to be afraid. She breathed out one last time.
"Let's go."
She had prepared herself psychologically. Slowly and steadily, Sucrose took the first step, then the second, the third… Before she realized, she was already walking normally. She continued onwards and upwards. She felt her movements lighter than usual. Once she reached the top of the slope, Sucrose turned around, and saw atop the cliff inside the basin the Palace of Alcazarzaray rising, the place where she would return once her walk was over. She was determined: she was going to show Dori that she had learnt from her mistakes. She nodded with resolve and resumed her walk.
After more than two months since her mysterious arrival in Sumeru, Sucrose finally began her new normal life. Her old life back in Mondstadt seemed but a distant memory now; despite this, she still missed everybody. She had not yet discovered what had truly happened that crucial night in which everything began, nor how she had found herself in Sumeru. Be that as it may, she hardly paid any attention to those questions anymore. She was aware that she would not find the answers to them just like that. Knowing that the Fatui were related to that incident, Sucrose was afraid that delving into it in order to find those answers might even endanger her current life, something she had not even the slightest intention to do. She had a place to call home, she had people she could call family, she had friends who loved her and supported her, and she had a new goal in her life. The best thing she could do for all of them, as well as for herself, was to keep moving forwards.